12 July 2012

Local government doesn’t want "reforms"

Survey data released today by the Green Party shows there is considerable opposition amongst councillors and community board members to Government's proposed changes to local government.

The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill makes the biggest changes to local government since the restructuring of 1989.

“The Government has claimed that most local government politicians are very supportive of these reforms, but this is clearly not the case,” Green Party local government spokesperson Eugenie Sage said.

“The lack of consultation is obvious as the Government’s claims are so out of touch with views in local government.

“Unlike the Government, we asked all local body politicians about what they think and the results were overwhelmingly opposed to the proposed changes.

"Our survey responses show that the changes proposed threaten local democracy.

“As one councillor said "local government's contract is with its own citizens. It is not an arm of central government”.

"The Bill muddles that distinction. It would put local government under Wellington's thumb.”

The Green Party sent a survey to elected local government representatives to gather their views on the Bill. The survey was sent to all local council, local board, and community board members and collected 175 responses from all over New Zealand over 2 weeks.

· 66% of respondents said they had not been consulted about the changes.

· 70% of respondents disagree with the proposed changes to the purpose of local government including removing councils' function to promote social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of their communities.

· 71% oppose the changes to the Act to "streamline" the process for council amalgamations and remove the need for a poll of affected electors.

· 74% of respondents disagree with changes to the Act which would allow central government and the Minister to intervene more in local government.

“I am calling on communities to make submissions to the Select Committee on why this Bill is bad for local democracy, bad for our communities, and bad for the economy,” said Ms Sage.

Submissions on the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill close on 26 July.

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